Masterplan for North Blackburn Development Site: Public Consultation Report October 2016 2016
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Masterplan for North Blackburn Development Site: Public Consultation Report October 2016 2016 CONTENTS PAGE 1. Introduction 3 2. Background 3 3. Consultation process 4 4. Comments received 5 5. Conclusions 9 Appendix 1: Consultation material 11 Appendix 2: Consultation leaflet 10 Appendix 3: Boundary of draft masterplan and area of resident leaflet drop 37 Appendix 4: Newsletter, July 2016 41 Appendix 5: Residents’ consultation responses 42 Appendix 6: Council response to key themes/issues in residents’ feedback Appendix 7: Statutory agency feedback and Council response 2 1. INTRODUCTION (adopted in January 2011) which sets out the Council’s vision and overall spatial strategy for the development and growth of the borough to 2026. A copy of the 1.1 A key consideration for the preparation of the masterplan document is available here. was to ensure that the form and functioning of the development takes into account, as much as possible, 2.2 The second part of the Local Plan is the Site Allocations local issues and the concerns of residents and statutory and Development Management Policies plan (known as agencies. With this in mind public consultation took place the Local Plan Part 2). This plan seeks to support the at an early stage in the preparation of the masterplan to implementation of the Core Strategy by identifying enable any supplementary work needed to inform the strategic land allocations for a range of uses including shaping of the masterplan framework and accompanying employment, housing and green infrastructure that are design principles to be undertaken. The intention is that essential for delivering the Council's objectives for the this report sits alongside other baseline/technical evidence development of the borough to 2026. Additionally it sets of the principal factors that have influenced the content out Development Management policies which will be used and approach to development set out in the masterplan. to assess every planning application for development within the borough. The Part 2 plan was adopted in 1.2 This report provides details of public consultation carried December 2015 and is available to review here. th out over a six week period from Monday 14 March 2016 th to Monday 25 April 2016 on a range of issues and initial 2.3 In order to help meet the borough’s identified housing design concepts. It sets out the rationale for producing requirements as set out in the Core Strategy, the Local the masterplan and outlines the consultation Plan Part 2 identifies a package of 18 sites for residential arrangements. The report also provides a summary of the development including the North Blackburn Development main issues raised, Council actions to address these and Site;(Policy16/2). how these matters have been taken into account within the final version masterplan. 2.4 The Council has worked in collaboration with the site’s landowners, their agents and a land promoter to prepare 2. BACKGROUND the masterplan. Given the proposed scale of the development (450-550 new homes), the site’s separation 2.1 The Council’s Local Plan for Blackburn with Darwen along Barker Lane/Lammack Road into principally 2 parts, comprises of a series of documents which collectively multiple private ownerships and the likelihood that provide a policy framework for development in the development will take place in phases over a number of borough. The overarching document is the Core Strategy years it was considered essential that a framework and 3 supporting design principles are in place to ensure that - consultation material (copy exhibition boards) published overall all development is integrated, comprehensive and on the Council’s website; responsive to local needs. The masterplan will ensure that - consultation material was available to view at Blackburn the transition between different phases of development is Town Hall, and; seamless. -2 drop-in events were held at local venues. 2.5 The masterplan will also help to ensure that any 3.4 A copy of the consultation material is available to view on development incorporates appropriate infrastructure, the Council’s website. A copy is also provided in Appendix achieves high standards of design, retains important 1 for ease of reference. features and assets, and is sensitive to its location. It will inform developers of the Council’s expectations with 3.5 A total of 1347 leaflets were sent, mostly hand delivered, to regard to scheme content and design. residential properties and businesses in the surrounding area to notify the local community of the consultation, to 2.6 Once adopted the masterplan will be a material advise them where they could view the consultation consideration in the review of and decision making on material and how they could submit a response. A copy of every planning application for development on the site. the consultation leaflet is provided in Appendix 2 and a map which identifies the properties that the leaflets were sent to is provided in Appendix 3. 3. CONSULTATION PROCESS 3.6 A further 137 leaflets were sent to consultees on the 3.1 The consultation period extended over six weeks between Planning Strategy Team’s including Ribble Valley Borough Monday 14th March 2016 and Monday 25th April 2016. Council and the adjoining Ribble Valley Parish Councils. 3.2 The purpose of the consultation was essentially to ask 3.7 The consultation material set out a number of options for residents and stakeholders ‘when the development takes the return of comments including online via Survey place, what do you think it should look like?’ and to seek Monkey, via email or by post. local resident’s views on the key issues for the site that need to be taken into account in the masterplan and 3.8 During the consultation period, two community subsequent scheme detailing. engagement events took place. These were held on nd Tuesday 22 March 2016 at Pleckgate High School and on rd 3.3 The format of the consultation included:- Wednesday 23 March 2016 at Lammack Primary School. Both of these events were drop-in events including a 4 display of the consultation material/boards. They provided cases support for the development alongside providing members of the public with the opportunity to speak to local information. Council officers and local elected members about their thoughts/views on the initial design concepts. 4.4 Comments were invited on any aspect of the masterplan. However to help generate responses to key topics a series 3.9 A total of 40 residents attended the event at Pleckgate High of consultation questions were set out with the consultation School, and a further 71 residents attended the event at material. The questions were: Lammack Primary School. Altogether 111 residents. What are your views on the masterplan framework so 3.10 In August 2016 a newsletter was distributed to all residents far? originally contacted at the commencement of the Do you agree with the main issues that we have consultation. The newsletter outlined the comments considered in developing the draft masterplan? Are received, provided Council feedback and an update on there any others that should be taken into account? progress with the preparation of the masterplan. A copy of Do you feel issues such as drainage and highways have the newsletter is provided in Appendix 4. been addressed sufficiently? If not, why not? What are your views on the proposals for movements across the site? 4. COMMENTS RECEIVED Do the proposals offer links to the key areas and facilities used by local residents? 4.1 A total of 81 responses were received during the Do you have any comments on the proposals for consultation period. This included an online petition that incorporating green infrastructure into the had been signed by 304 people (as at 17/05/2016) development? objecting to a new road junction on Whinney Lane. Do you agree with the character areas identified? Please provide any additional comments that you may 4.2 An additional petition was received in July, signed have. principally by residents in Mellor, objecting to the development, principally the scale of development. 4.3 A summary of the comments received is provided below. A full record of resident’s feedback is provided in 4.3 Overall the responses included a wide range of Appendix 5. Appendix 6 sets out the Council’s response comments/observations including objections to the and how this has informed the final version masterplan. development as a whole or particular aspect and in many Appendix 7 details the feedback from statutory agencies and the Council’s response. 5 Loss of green space; Overview of resident comments Would like the green corridor to be a multi-use bridleway to allow residents to pursue healthy, active pursuits 4.4 Broadly, residents’ views fell into a number of recurring without having to use the main road; categories/themes. The key issues are presented below within Consideration needs to be given to importance of links to the identified categories: biodiversity; Sensitive habitats need to be protected; PRINCIPLE of DEVELOPMENT Trees/hedgerows and watercourses need to be enhanced Development should not take place as site is located to support habitats. within the Green Belt; Scale of DEVELOPMENT/DESIGN Do not agree that the site should be developed when brownfield sites are available; Concerns regarding the scale of development/proposed Lack of affordable housing within the borough. number of units; Loss of rural feel to the area and existing residents’ views; HIGHWAYS/ACCESS and connectivity Views through the site to the wider countryside should be Major concerns regarding potential access off Whinney retained and reflected in design principles; Lane. Residents feel this is inappropriate - it’s a narrow Minimise impact of housing on Whinney Lane by and winding country lane which has no footpaths and is incorporating trees/green areas; used regularly by pedestrians.